New Chair appointed to lead Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse in Wales

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Social Services and Public Health, has announced the appointment of a new Chair to the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse.

Caroline Phipps has been appointed as Chair of the Panel from 14 August 2017 to 13 August 2018.

The Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse is an independent expert advisory Welsh Government Sponsored Body, established under general executive powers of the Welsh Ministers and supported by the Welsh Government. The Panel’s remit is to advise on measures to prevent or reduce substance misuse, the associated health and social harms and review implementation of the Welsh Government’s Substance Misuse Strategy.

The Panel will consist of not less than eight and not more than 12 Panel Members, all of whom are independent of the Welsh Government.

Members of the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse (APoSM), including the Chair, are not paid, but are reimbursed for reasonable travel and subsistence costs. They have a time commitment of approximately 10 days per annum.

Rebecca Evans said: "We are committed to tackling and reducing the harms associated with substance misuse in Wales. I am pleased that Caroline Phipps has agreed to take up the role of Chair of the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse for the next 12 months.

“I am confident Caroline’s breadth of knowledge and expertise, along with the continued input from other Panel Members, will be invaluable.”

Caroline (pictured) is Chief Executive of Drugaid, a third sector organisation delivering a range of services and interventions to individuals and families with substance misuse issues across south Wales.

As member of Gwent and Cwm Taf Area Planning Boards and she sat on the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse (APoSM) and represented the third sector substance misuse network on the National Strategic Implementation Board.

Caroline was also Chair of the Recovery working Group for Welsh Government leading the implementation of the Recovery Framework for Wales, which launched in February 2014.